Sarah W. Cooksey – Delaware
Sarah's expertise is in coastal zone management and biology. She is currently the Administrator of the Delaware Coastal Programs where she is responsible for both the Coastal Zone Management Program and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. Prior to her work in the State of Delaware, she spent several years in EPA's Office of Water in Washington, DC working with states on water issues. She recently served as a committee member for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment publication entitled "Innovation by Design".
David Dempsey – Minnesota
Dave has worked on coastal protection policies in Michigan and Minnesota for more than 25 years. He currently serves as Communications Director for Conservation Minnesota, a nonprofit organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served as environmental advisor to Michigan Governor James J. Blanchard from 1983-89 and later worked at the Michigan Environmental Council and Clean Water Action. President Clinton appointed him to serve on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in 1994, where he served until 2001. He is the author of three books: Ruin and Recovery: Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader, On the Brink: The Great Lakes in the 21st Century, and a biography of Michigan’s longest-serving governor. He serves on the board of directors of the non-profit Alliance for the Great Lakes, based in Chicago.
Kristen Fletcher, Secretary – District of Columbia
Kristen Fletcher is Executive Director of the Coastal States Organization (CSO) and has a background in ocean and coastal law. Before joining CSO, she directed the Marine Affairs Institute and Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program at Roger Williams University School of Law. Previously, Fletcher directed the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program, providing ocean and coastal law analysis to agencies, policy-makers, and researchers. During her tenure, she was editor of the Water Log Legal Reporter and established the National Sea Grant Law Center for which she served as its first director. Fletcher currently serves as President of The Coastal Society and is a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program.
Dr. Terry Howey, Treasurer – Louisiana
Terry's expertise in coastal and ocean management and science issues spans 29 years of service in university, commercial, federal and state government settings. For 21 years he assisted Louisiana's Coastal Management Program where he served for 12 years as its administrator. Most recently Terry began serving as Science and Policy Consultant to the Office of Coastal Restoration and Management for Louisiana's Department of Natural Resources. Educated as a marine ecologist, Terry has particular expertise in wetland and near-shore ecological processes and environmental issues related to science, public policy and energy exploration and production issues.
David Keeley – Maine
David's expertise is in coastal policy, planning and management. In 2004 he completed 25-years of service at the Maine State Planning Office -- most recently serving as the Director of the agency. During this time he was also the Director of the Maine Coastal Program and instrumental in forming the international Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. In 2003 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration selected David as the Walter B. Jones Coastal Steward of the Year for his dedicated and sustained commitment to our nation's oceans and coasts. David is now in the private sector.
Brian Lynn, President – Washington
Brian is the Assistant Coastal Manager for the State of Washington. He manages the administration of the state’s coastal program and leads a group of talented people that provide technical and policy support for shoreline management. He sits on the Governor’s State Ocean Caucus and has actively worked on the West Coast Governor's Agreement on Ocean Health and the Lower Columbia Solutions Group. Brian began his career as an education intern at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and has spent the last 20+ years in the coastal program at the Washington Department of Ecology. He is a fourth generation Washingtonian and is proud to be one of the native species of Puget Sound.
Tony MacDonald – New Jersey
Tony serves as the Director of the Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University in New Jersey. Previously he was the Executive Director of the Coastal States Organization (CSO.) CSO, based in Washington, DC, represents the interests of the Governors of the nation’s 35 coastal States, Commonwealths and Territories on coastal and ocean affairs. Prior to joining CSO he served as Special Counsel and Director of Environmental Affairs at the American Association of Port Authorities, where he also represented the International Association of Ports and Harbors at the International Maritime Organization on negotiations on the London Convention.
Jim Murley, Vice-President – Florida
Jim's expertise is in land use law and planning, with an emphasis on coastal management and sustainable regional planning. Since 1999 he has served as the Director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University. Before that he served has Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Florida, and Director of State Programs -- Office of Coastal Zone Management, NOAA. Jim is a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and a board member of the Congress for New Urbanism.
Donna Wieting (ex officio) – NOAA
Donna is the Deputy Director for the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, the NOAA Office responsible for carrying out the Coastal Zone Management Act. Donna has been with NOAA for over 15 years, in positions dealing with marine mammal and endangered species conservation and management and other environmental policy issues.
Peter Young – Hawaii
Peter is a former cabinet member and director of the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources. As Director/Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Young managed, administered and exercised control over public lands, state parks, historical sites, forest reserves, aquatic life, aquatic life sanctuaries, boating, ocean recreation, coastal programs, wildlife, wildlife sanctuaries and natural area reserves. He has returned to the private sector assisting with policy development, project planning, entitlement and community outreach.